Turner blockbuster to melt winter chill

The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) will host a winter art blockbuster of works by British landscape artist Joseph Mallord William Turner.

Turner, whose paintings have travelled to Canberra before, was often dubbed the painter of light, and many of his sketches and watercolours hang in Britain's Tate Gallery.

But from June to September next year, key works will go on show in the capital in an exhibition called Turner from the Tate: The Making of a Master.

It is the gallery's first winter international blockbuster in 10 years, and is expected to be a highlight of the Centenary of Canberra celebrations.

NGA director Ron Radford says more than 240,000 people queued to see the works of the British master at the gallery's last solo Turner exhibition.

"We had a popular Turner exhibition in 1996," Mr Radford said.

"We think it's a wonderful opportunity during the centenary year to have a very different Turner exhibition, knowing that it will be very popular and knowing it will be well supported by Canberra.

"There's only a handful of works that were here in '96. It's a completely different exhibition and it's going to South Australia first.

"The Tate have been very generous and allowed it to go to two venues."

Mr Radford says the NGA is taking a risk by hosting a major exhibition in the middle of winter, and so soon after a major summer exhibition, which will feature the works of French painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

"To be frank, it is a risk. But we think if you're going to take a risk, the centenary year is the time to take it," he said.

"We're going to take the opportunity when people come to Toulouse-Lautrec to advertise the Turner exhibition in the gallery."

Winter boost

ACT Tourism Minister Andrew Barr is confident Canberra can attract sufficient tourism numbers to sustain a winter art blockbuster at the National Gallery.

"We think that the market can sustain two major exhibitions particularly ones of this quality too," Mr Barr said.

"So we recognise that in taking on this challenge the gallery have been ambitious, but that's what we want to see."

The Australian Hotels Association ACT branch has welcomed the high profile art exhibition during the traditionally slow period for accommodation.

AHA-ACT general manager Brad Watts says back-to-back exhibitions will make a difference.

"Whenever the NGA hosts major exhibitions, the hotel sector finds that it directly translates into room nights, which boosts the local industry and economy, especially during the quieter months for businesses," Mr Watts said

"Having the Turner from the Tate exhibition, featuring one of Britain's greatest artists, will certain provide a spike in tourist numbers for the nation's capital, which is a very welcomed trend.

"Local restaurants, venues and pubs will also strongly benefit from the influx of tourists throughout Centenary festivities."